Innovation value chain

Aim

The innovation value chain displays various dimensions that can influence technological development such as the research itself, economic aspects, regulations, and societal embedding. In reality, innovation processes are highly complex and neither smooth nor linear: the various steps within an innovation process occur not sequentially but influence each other [1, 2]. For example, science not only leads to innovation but new innovations can also require new research. The innovation value chain shown below makes an attempt to model innovation processes in a linear and oversimplified manner with arrows indicating feedback loops between the different dimensions. This model provides a starting point to think about chances and challenges in the innovation process.

Practical considerations and implementation

CHARACTERISTICS

PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION

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Use the innovation value chain shown above as a guideline to analyze and discuss the challenges that you expect during the innovation process for a certain technology and one particular application. Which technological requirements are critical and play an important role for this application? What are challenges for implementation of the technology in an industrial environment (e.g., integration in daily processes, compatibility with standard methods and machines, commercial benefits)? How does the regulatory framework look like? Which regulatory requirements play an important role or might change? What is the direct or indirect impact of the technology on the society? Which aspects could increase/decrease public acceptance? How could the technology be used?

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Analyze the links between the different dimensions and their influence on each other. How does each dimension (research, industry, regulations or society) influence one of the other? What does this mean for the future development of the technology? Which challenges do you foresee along the value chain?

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You can carry out this analysis for several applications and compare the different innovation value chains with each other. For which application do you expect most challenges? Which innovation value chain seems most promising?

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Evaluation of the innovation process along these dimensions can be seen as an exercise for researchers to become aware of potential difficulties. It would also be valuable to confirm such an analysis with relevant actors along the value chain, for example during an interview or a workshop, to take into account the different perceptions and to cope with the simplification of the analysis.

Suggested time

Short (hours/days)

Level of difficulty

Straightforward

Materials

Pen/Paper

People involved

Researcher (you)

Examples

Comparing four nanomedicine applications

A PhD student used the dimensions of the innovation value chain to evaluate four applications for the microfluidic bilayer platform she developed during her project, as displayed in the table: drug screening, testing of nanoparticle toxicity, cosmetic screening and using the platform for research. The four application areas were selected from a multi-path map that she created with other participants during a workshop. When comparing the applications, it becomes clear that the innovation processes are different. In the case of drug screening, the technology must fit in the existing procedures and requirements that are present in pharmaceutical companies. Additionally, the technology must adapt to the regulatory framework. A direct impact on society is not envisioned for this application. In contrast, research can be driven by a demand in the society to reduce animal testing, as in the case of cosmetic screening, which leads to a requirement for new technologies that replace animal models. Here, the platform developed by the PhD student potentially could play a role. Research could also be triggered by new regulations for testing nanoparticle toxicity. In this case, the growing concern about nanotoxicity stimulates new accreditation procedures and therefore also new platforms that can contribute to determine the toxicity or safety of nanoparticles. A detailed discussion of the dimensions can be found in the thesis of the PhD student [3].

BLM = bilayer lipid membrane, N.A. = not available

Innovation value chain for a lipid-based coating

Similarly, one envisioned application in a research project can be tested by looking at the different dimensions of the innovation value chain. In the case of another PhD project, a novel lipid-based coating has been evaluated. The coating consists of biological material and therefore no health risks are expected. Also the production of the molecules is comparable to existing methods which are already certified. However, it becomes clear that further evaluation and safety assessment of the linker molecule, which has not been tested yet, is necessary for commercialization of this technology as required by existing regulations. The novel biomaterial could be applied in clinical products such as implants where it could improve their functionality and therefore reduce the amount of surgery needed for revisions. More detailed information about the technology and this discussion can be found in the thesis of the PhD student [4].

Innovation journeys for a lab-on-chip device

In this example, a lab-on-chip device with hydrogel pattern is developed, and different applications are envisioned: (1) DNA fractionation, (2) organ-on-chip, and (3) desalination. To analyze possible challenges and opportunities, each application is discussed in terms of different dimensions of the value chain. Here, the dimensions are slightly adapted into functional requirements, economical value and societal embedding. A detailed discussion for all applications can be found in the PhD thesis of the student [5].